Amanze Chinonye
President Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s drive to strengthen clean and sustainable energy supply across Africa with the commissioning of a 40,000 cubic meters Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessel in Ulsan, South Korea.
The vessel, named MT Iyaloja (Lagos), is owned by WAGL Energy Limited, a joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and Sahara Group.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelA dual-fuel, fully refrigerated LPG carrier, the ship expands WAGL’s total fleet capacity to 162,000 CBM. Other vessels in the fleet include MT Africa Gas, MT Sahara Gas, MT BaruMK, and MT Sapet.
Speaking at the commissioning, Tinubu represented by Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo said the project was more than a fleet expansion. He stressed that it directly advances Nigeria’s ambition to make LPG more available and affordable, while strengthening Africa’s role in the global clean energy value chain.
“This commissioning is about more than a vessel; it represents our collective dedication to solutions that improve energy access, tackle affordability challenges, and ensure security for millions of African households,” Tinubu said.
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Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Engr. Bashir Ojulari, represented by EVP Gas, Power & New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, highlighted the economic impact of the development. He said the vessel would support Nigeria’s gas expansion programme and had the potential to lower costs for consumers.
“NNPC Ltd. Is proud to be a major shareholder in this indigenous company which, in addition to the MT Iyaloja (Lagos), has delivered over six million metric tonnes of LPG across West Africa in the last five years. This vessel makes the business of clean cooking gas more sustainable for Nigerian families,” Ojulari said.
WAGL’s Chairman and Sahara Group Executive Director, Temitope Shonubi, said the expansion underscores the company’s commitment to bridging Africa’s energy infrastructure gap. He noted that the vessel’s name honours the late Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, mother of President Tinubu, describing her as “an icon of progress and empowerment.”
WAGL Managing Director, Mohammed Bello, disclosed that the company plans to further expand its fleet within two years with the addition of a Small Gas Carrier and a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC), ensuring more supply capacity.
The ribbon cutting was performed by the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Alhaja Folasade Mujidat Tinubu-Ojo, granddaughter of Alhaja Mogaji.
By expanding LPG shipping capacity, the commissioning of MT Iyaloja (Lagos) marks a significant step in making clean energy more accessible and affordable in Nigeria and across West Africa positioning the country as a stronger player in the global energy transition.
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